The United Nations agency chiefs and the World Bank's representatives decided on Tuesday to set up a task force to tackle the rise in global food prices which is threatening poor countries, which are the world's most vulnerable areas. The United Nations said in a statement the crisis has evolved into “an unprecedented challenge of global proportions.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said its first priority will be to meet the $755 million shortfall in funding for the World Food Program.
"Without full funding of these emergency requirements, we risk again the specter of widespread hunger, malnutrition and social unrest on an unprecedented scale," he told reporters in the Swiss capital, Bern, where the U.N. agency chiefs have been meeting, according to the Associated Press.
He added an additional funding will be required.
Ban added that new measures must also go beyond the usual approach of simply providing emergency food relief when crises hit, the source noted.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) Food Price Index, measuring the market prices of cereals, dairy produce, meat, sugar and oils, was 57 percent higher in March 2008 than a year earlier.
"In addition to increasing food prices, we see at the same time farmers in developing countries planting less, producing less, due to the escalating cost of fertilizer and energy," he said. "We must make every effort to support those farmers so that in the coming year we do not see even more severe food shortages."
Bad said the UN'S Food and Agriculture Organization has developed a $1.7 billion plan to provide seeds for farmers in the world's poorest countries.
But World Bank President Robert Zoellick emphasized that the “crisis isn't over once the emergency needs are met.” This project has to be a continuous one, year after year. He called on countries nor to ban exports of food because it only worsens the crisis.
"We are urging countries not to use export bans," World Bank President Robert Zoellick said in a statement. "These controls encourage hoarding, drive up prices and hurt the poorest people around the world who are struggling to feed themselves."
To subscribe (FREE) :
To view us logon at
http://worldtopnews.blogspot.com
To Read Business Articles visit
http://info-exchange.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment